School backpack and health problems

Every school student has to carry different sizes of backpacks loaded with various items from home to school to home, but very few of us think about the amount of loading and appropriate wearing method of backpacks. Carrying too much weight in the back pack and wearing it wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Every school-going student has the individual loading capacity in regard of his/her body structure and fitness level.
So far my clinical experiences from many school students consulted with me reveals that they were suffering some health problems such as back, neck and shoulder pain, tingling arms, muscular weakness and imbalance, stooped posture. Most of the time we usually ignore their such type of complains, but the reality is — sometimes these symptoms are so severe that they do not like to go to school, even most of time they are unable to carry backpacks. As parents if you do not justify the loading capacity of your growing son or daughter, they can suffer multiple joints and muscular health problems.
Reasons:
Shoulders and neck have many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms and hands when too much pressure is applied.
Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing pain or discomfort. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull backwards and strain muscles.
Tips for prevention of such problems:
Mainly the correction of load and wearing backpacks in the right way can avoid health problems.
Loading a pack:
 Do not carry back pack more than 15% of total body weight. If  body weight is 50 Kgs the backpack should not be heavier than 7.5 Kgs.
 Load heaviest items closest to the back of the pack
 If the pack is too loaded, some books and other items should be carried by hands
Correct wearing a pack:
 Well-padded shoulder straps should always be worn in both sides
 Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back
 Wear the waist belt of backpack which helps to distribute the pack's weight more evenly
 The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the waistline.
 Choose the right size pack for your child's back as well as one with enough room for necessary school items
If your school-going son or daughter suffers any above health problems, s/he should be consulted with a physician or physiotherapist or occupational therapist who is specialised in biomechanics or human movements or occupational health and safety issues. A movement specialist physiotherapist can help a lot to relief and future prevention of  above health problems by assessing their postures, musculoskeletal fitness. Choose appropriate backpack within their ergonomics, train them some specific form of exercises and position, apply hands on treatment for affected joints/spine and soft tissues.

The writer is a Senior Consultant of Physiotherapy at Bangladesh Physiotherapy Hospital, Gulshan, Dhaka.